John Carl Frederick Zach was born February 24, 1826 in Sidenbolletin , Germany which is in the Bradenburg area North East of Altentreptow and Northwest of Friedland. The son of John Carl Christian Bartels Zach and Sophia Fredricka Ernestine Maahs, John was the immigrant ancestor to America .
While in Meckelburg , Germany , he married Fredricks Sieggreun (November 20, 1854). Fredericka was born March 2, 1819 in Sidenbolletin the daughter of John Daniel Frederick Sieggreun and Maria Sophia Hortsman. She was first married to a man named Peters and had a daughter Louise August 28, 1949. Louise married Arthur Baker and had eight children, several descendants still living in the LaPorte area. John and Fredericka had four children of their own, including (1) Ernestina Karolina “ Augusta ” born September 5, 1855 (in Sidenbolletin and died April 26, 1937 in LaPorte). She married John Fredrick Barlag in LaPorte October 12, 1876) and had five children. Again, there are living descendants in the area. (2) August Carl Christian Zach (born April 28, 1859 married Mary Freeze March 4, 1885) and who died August 20, 1913 in LaPorte. They had 4 children, Fred, Augusta, Linda and Fritz. (3) John Carl Zach born June 28, 1852 died Jan 8, 1937 both in LaPorte County married Emma Wildt, and had five children, Edith, Elsie, Sylvia, Howard “Bill” and Earl. Some of their descendants live in the area today. (4) William Frederick Zach (October 10, 1854 in LaPorte, died in LaPorte Feb 22, 1934) married Amelia Puffpaff (June 25, 1857 and died Jan 9, 1950 in LaPorte). They had only two children, Daisy Edna Anna (married Ben Parker) and Herbert Frederick John Zach.
John Zach, the immigrant to LaPorte County , was of the old German Lutheran Church . He, Fredricka and daughters Louise, age 7 at the time and daughter Augusta, age 1 came to America on the ship, “Elise Ruebcke,” from Hamburg to New York , arriving there May 21, 1857. He may have been here before to work and put in preliminary papers for naturalization but did not complete those until shortly before his death. When Tracy , Indiana was a thriving little burg, John was a station master and catered to the sportsmen who came. He played a squeeze-box type accordion and was an interesting, loving man. Written by: Karen Zach
Biography contributed to site by: Karen Zach at karen.zach@sbcglobal.net